Key West day 6 & 7

Our first night in Key West was rather cool....

We walked over to a locals hang-out for dinner on recommendation from our fearless Capt. Joe.
Hogfish Bar and Grill was not your typical dive the menu was delicious and the atmosphere very tropical.  We listened to live music while eating conch and hogfish of course.  The people next to us brought in their pet, a Grey African parrot and Will asked to hold the bird during dinner.  The bird had quite the appetite and preferred shrimp to french fries.  Smart bird.....

Grey African Parrot

Hogfish 

coconuts dressed up as fish

The next morning we said good bye to Capt. Joe and thanked him for an unforgettable week.  He was a wonderful captain and very patient with our kids.  Both learned a lot about the ocean and how to navigate and sail its waters.  If we ever do this again it will be with Capt. Joe for sure.

Our sailboat "Soggy Dollars"

We took a pink taxi (yes taxis in Key West are pink) to our  hotel the Casa Marina and started our tour of Key West...first though we checked out the hotel grounds and the kids joined the scouting program and collected the bracelets at all the spots on the property while learning about the Island.

scouting program

hotel pier

one of many hammocks

outdoor spa

behind the main building beside the pool and restaurant

We got tickets on the Old Town Trolley and began our day in Key West.  We made the best of our limited time seeing The Ernest Hemingway House (and all the 6-toed cats), lunch at Five Guys, then we walked to USS Ingham (the most decorated Coast Guard cutter in the fleet), Key West aquarium, Ft. Zachary where the boys walked around the fort and looked at canons, then back to Duval Street for souvenirs and the trolley for another ride around the island.  After a swim in the pool we headed back out to Sunset Festival and saw the crazy Cat Guy and watched cats jump through fire. 

Key West Lighthouse seen from Mr. Hemingway's Home

old urinal from Sloppy Joe's now a cat fountain....great story behind it

roosters everywhere

USS Ingham

man/boy-made canon

Duval gift shop

end of Route One (mile 0)

 After the Sunset fest we strolled down Duval Street back to the hotel and then had a nice dinner on the water it was a memorable day.  Key West is cool!!

The next day our official last day of vacation was yet another perfect day....

We drove the 4 hours back to Miami reminiscing along the way of all the stops we made on our way sail down....we could even see some of the places we anchored out at from US 1.  We also stopped at the Sea Turtle Hospital on Marathon Key and took the 1.5 hour tour learning a lot about these amazing creatures and saw them up close.  Lunch at the Cracked Conch another great locals hangout with delicious food.  

The Cracked Conch

The Florida Keys are beautiful and full of amazing animals, sunsets and adventure our family will always remember this unique adventure inspired by Ernie's trips to Islamorado as a Boy Scout.....

BSA Florida Sea Base